Rafael Nadal lifts record 11th French Open title

Spain and Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has led the social media acclaim for tennis star Rafael Nadal, after he won a record-extending 11th title at the French Open in Paris.

Nadal's 11th title takes his grand slam tally to 17 and even at 32, despite the miles in his legs, who is going to stop him making it 12 in a year's time?

Juan Martin del Potro, who was run ragged by the world number one on Court Philippe Chatrier in this year's semi-finals, was right to state that it's nearly impossible to beat Nadal on clay.

Won his second Grand Slam of 2017 at Flushing Meadows after a 10th French Open title in June.

Del Potro's triumph at the 2009 U.S. Open - he got past Nadal in the semifinals, then Federer in the final - stands alongside Marin Cilic's title at the same tournament as the only two examples of someone other than Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray or Stan Wawrinka claiming a major over the past 13 years. But after, the Spaniard was imperious. At the following changeover, he was given a salt pill by a doctor and had his left forearm massaged by a trainer. Not much more of a daunting task than doing so against this particular opponent at the French Open, where Nadal is now 11-0 in finals and 86-2 overall.

Katherine Lam is a breaking and trending news digital producer for Fox News.

"So coming back and having the chance to win in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, and now especially here, it's very emotional for me".

Nadal won the match 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros. I am enjoying that moment.

Victory on Sunday moved Nadal to just three Slams behind his great rival Roger Federer who, at 36, is more than four years older. At 4-5 Thiem's serve let him down badly, handing Nadal three set points, and any hopes of an upset all but disappeared along with the ragged Thiem forehand which sailed way beyond the baseline.

But it ultimately proved a futile mission as, just like in all but two of Nadal's previous 87 matches here, the incredible Spaniard proved invincible, winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. In the other semi-final, Marco Cecchinato's odd run in the last two weeks was ended by Dominic Thiem, also in straight sets, although the first two sets were somewhat closer than anything Del Potro could muster.

Midway through the opening set, Nadal's aqua T-shirt was so soaked with sweat it stuck to him, so he changed into a fresh one at a changeover, drawing catcalls from spectators.

"I think everybody can stop talking about it now". However, here past year in the semi-finals, Nadal destroyed Thiem, losing just seven games in a rout, but it is worth mentioning that Thiem triumphed in their last meeting in Madrid last month, in the quarter-finals. It was his best performance of the fortnight, as Nadal confirmed on court, just when he needed it most. Thiem did force Nadal to save a breakpoint, but a less aggressive approach due to the mounting enforced errors meant there was little pressure on Nadal. "He is a player who pushes you to the limit".

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